Gutter guard device

Abstract

A gutter guard device that includes an elongate, curved bracket having a hooked portion disposed at a first edge, a first piece disposed from the first edge, said first piece joining a second piece at an approximately 90 degree first bend, the second piece joined to a third piece at an oblique angle at a second bend, and a rubberlike outer portion disposed overlying an exterior side, whereby the gutter guard device releasably attaches to the lip of an extant gutter to cover a section of a gutter thereby so that the pressure of a ladder rested against the gutter is distributed across a section and the gutter is protected thereunder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gutter guard device for releasably fastening to a gutter comprising:
 an elongate, curved bracket configured to releasably engage with an extant gutter, the bracket comprising:
 a first edge; 
 a first piece disposed from the first edge; 
 a second piece disposed at approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first piece; 
 a third piece disposed at more than 90 degrees with respect to the second piece, the third piece disposed at an oblique angle relative the second piece and tapering to a second edge; 
 a hooked portion disposed upon the first edge, said hooked portion disposed to releasably engage with an extant lip disposed upon said extant gutter; 
 an interior side disposed upon the bracket, said interior side configured to mesh with an extant gutter exterior when the hooked portion is releasably engaged with the gutter lip, and the gutter guard device is moved to an engaged position; 
 an exterior side disposed upon the bracket, said exterior side disposed outfacing from the gutter when the gutter guard device is moved to the engaged position; 
 a first bend of approximately 90 degrees disposed between the first piece and the second piece; 
 a second bend disposed obliquely between the second piece and the third piece; 
 
 a rubberlike outward portion disposed upon the exterior side, said outward portion disposed in continuous contact with the exterior side of the bracket first piece, said outward portion disposed divergently atop the second piece whereby the outward portion thickens towards the bracket third piece, the outward portion further disposed in continuous contact with the bracket third piece; 
 a heel disposed at a lower extremity of the outward portion, said heel protruding from the bracket second end and configured to abut a gutter exterior when the gutter guard device is moved to the engaged position; 
 wherein the interior side conforms with the exterior of a gutter when the hooked portion is releasably engaged with the lip of said gutter and the gutter guard device is moved to an engaged position. 
 
     
     
       2. The gutter guard device of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is made of aluminum and the outward portion is made of a polymeric and alternately rubberlike material. 
     
     
       3. The gutter guard of  claim 2  wherein the bracket is approximately 66 cm (26 inches) in length, the first piece is approximately 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) between the first edge and the first bend and the second piece is approximately 3.8 cm (1 and a half inches) between the first bend and the second bend.